After a couple of cold and windy weeks, we are getting a small break at
the first of this week. The temperature is forecast to get back into the 60's
and the wind drop to 10 knots or less. Unfortunately, that will all be gone way
too soon as we have another front arriving on Wednesday. This front is forecast
to be warmer initially, with winds from the south, but will shift to the north
and get cold before the weekend.

The big news, both figuratively and literally along the central NC coast
is that the bluefin tuna have arrived. The General Category (commercial) bluefin
tuna season reopened on Monday December 1. The Angling Category (recreational)
bluefin season remains closed, but the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF)
Director, Preston Pate, has requested that the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) reopen it also. The bite started up around Drum Inlet early last week,
but had moved across Cape Lookout Shoals to the area between the Trawler Wreck
and Northwest Places by the weekend. While many of these fish may not have their
total winter fat just yet and therefore are not bringing top prices, these are
large fish with many dressing out at over 300 pounds.

The NC DMF has also requested that the NMFS temporarily close the
commercial season at least a couple of weeks to allow the bluefins to add some
winter fat. This had not occurred as of writing this, but the NCDMF is expecting
it at any time. The higher content of winter fat contributes to the bluefins
tasting better and bringing a better price per fish. The closure would also move
the catch closer to the Christmas and New Year Holidays, when the demand and
base price is higher on the Asian markets.

While it got going a little late, the false albacore fishing has been
really hot for several weeks now. These small tuna have been hitting a large
variety of flies, grubs, and an assortment of smaller metal lures. The best
action comes from locating a feeding school, casting the lures in, and
retrieving them quickly. A flock of feeding seagulls is a good indicator of
feeding Alberts. While there are Alberts along much of the coast, the hotbed has
been between Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout.

With this latest blast of cold air, the inshore and nearshore catch has
slowed, but there are still some good catches by fishermen willing to brave the
cold. Most of the reports are of speckled trout, gray trout, bluefish, croakers,
sea mullet, red drum, and stripers.

At Manns Harbor the stripers have been biting well almost daily. The first
of the big winter stripers are also showing at Oregon Inlet and along the Outer
Banks surf. There haven't been any reports of 40 pound stripers yet, but with
the catches of 30 pounders increasing daily they can't be far behind. Striper
fishing is also improving at New Bern, Washington, and Wilmington.

The cold weather has cooled the nearshore ocean and moved the 70 degree
water farther offshore. This is now at about 30 miles and 80 feet of water or
deeper. The reports are that the kings are biting well, whenever the weather
allows you to get there.

The wind also dictates whether or not the trip to the Gulf Stream is
feasible. The offshore bite remains hot. When the weather allows the trip the
boats have been returning with good catches. There are tuna from the Big Rock to
the north, with lots of wahoo still to the south.